Bangkok has very active dining and entertainment options. Not only the city has plenty of Thai restaurants, it also has a wide selection of world-class international cuisine (located mostly along Sukhumvit and Khao San roads).

Although locals may consider them expensive, the prices are actually cheap by international standards. Some servings may be small, but at that cheap of a price you can actually buy two. A good meal would usually costs below 300 baht, although there are a few restaurants-primarily in hotels-where you can easily spend 10 times the price.

When trying out Bangkok’s famous nightlife, it is important to bring your passport (or a photocopy of it) with you at all times.

Here are some good options when eating out and hanging out around Bangkok.

Pad Thai – It is a fried noodle dish that Thailand is pretty much famous for. The noodles are stirred with a sweet and spicy sauce, then topped with chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, and or tofu. It is best to try them on several street vendors, as the Thai version of this dish tastes completely different from the ones that you may have been accustomed to back home (it actually tastes lighter).

Curry shops – Curries are a popular food choice in Thailand. Meat, fish, or vegetables are cooked in a spiced sauce using local ingredients such as chili peppers, Kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, Galangal, and coconut milk. Because of its additional spices, Thai curries are usually more aromatic than its Indian counterpart. There are many curry shops across the streets of Bangkok. It’s best to try them out!

Tom Yum – This popular Thai soup is characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors, with fragrant herbs generously used. The basic broth is made of stock and fresh vegetables like lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves, Galangal, shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind, and crushed chilis. This is usually made with prawns, chicken, fish, or mixed seafood, and mushrooms. It is then topped with generous sprinkling of freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Satay – Street vendors around Bangkok would sell various street food, the most popular would be satay. It consists of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings. Each satay costs between 5 to 10 baht a piece.

Bugs – Thai people are fond of eating certain insects, which are usually served deep fried and sprayed with soy sauce. Among those commonly served are scorpions, water beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bamboo larvae, mealworms, and some seasonal specialties. They are packed with protein and are considered nutritious. When eating grasshoppers and crickets, remember to remove their legs or it would get stuck in your throat.

Vegetarian food – Vegetarians and vegans would not have too many problems when it comes to eating in Bangkok, as vegetarianism is a fairly well-understood concept in this Buddhist country.

No naam plaa, please – Most Thai dishes, even vegetarian dishes, uses fish sauce (naam plaa). For vegetarians, keeping this animal by-product out of soups, curries, and stir-fries would be a challenge. However, since food in Thai restaurants are prepared upon order, it is best to alert the restaurant staff before hand. Say "karunaa mai sai naam plaa" ("Please don’t use fish sauce") to the waiter as you give out your order.

Thai restaurant chains – Several restaurant chains are scattered across Bangkok. They offer much the same fare as your average street stall, but with air conditioning, printed menus (often in English), and some semblance to hygiene. MK and Coca are famous for its hotpot where you create your own soup. S&P is a bakery, cafe, and restaurant rolled into one. Yum Saap and Kuaitio Ruea have signs written in Thai, but are distinguishable by their respective logos (a big yellow smiley on the former, a hungry rat on the latter).

Fast food – You could also find the usual McDonald’s, KFC, and Pizza Hut around Bangkok. If you do end up at McDonald’s, try some of their uniquely Thai items like their fried chicken with McSomTam (green papaya salad).

The notorious nightlife – Nightlife is Bangkok, as westerners would say, is "crazy." It has girly bars, gay bar, straight bars, lounges, backpacker venues, and anything in between. Some aspects of prostitution is legal (pimping and soliciting are illegal), and the country has strict guidelines to it.

Silom – It is one of Bangkok’s main party districts. Not only it is home to the world’s most famous go-go bar strip Patpong, but it also has several legitimate establishments catering to all tastes. For a drink with a view, try out the open-air rooftop bars like Vertigo and Sirocco. A large number of more trendy and more expensive bars and nightclubs can be found in higher-numbered "sois" (streets) such as Thong Lor, Bed Supperclub, Q Bar, and Met Bar.

Go-go bars – These are an institution to the city’s "naughty nightlife." Inside, several dozen dancers in bikinis crowd the stage, shuffling back and forth to loud music as they try to catch the eye of the predominantly male audience. Some bars also put on "shows" where girls perform on stage, although there is no nudity involved.

Beer bars – In contrast to go-go bars, beer bars have no stage and the girls wear street clothes. However, like go-go bars, you may take the girl with you provided that you pay the bar fine. How much you pay the girl is a different question.

The gay scene – Thais are generally accepting of homosexuality. Bars catering to gay men are concentrated in Silom sois 2 and 4 such as Balcony, Telephone Bar, and DJ Station. Lesbian bars, however, are much low-key with fewer bars such as "Zeta and Shela" and Lesla. However, if you pick up a local guy at the bar who "appears" to be interested in you, ask if he is after the money. It’s not uncommon for them to start demanding for "food and drink expenses" and "taxi money" after sex.

Kathoey bars – Bangkok has numerous "kathoeys" (transsexuals), popularly known as ladyboys. Some work in popular transvestite cabarets and kathoey bars. Most of them do their best to blend in and perform the art of deception (as most of them really look like women). Telltale signs to look out for include tall height, large hands, and an Adam’s apple.